Custom farms, some things I would like to know.

[RippleJet]

I do have one specific question though: Is there a way to put 2 props in a family, and have one of them appear a specific amount more often. I have a specific scenario, where I want one of the props to appear roughly 90 percent of the time, and the other only 10.

Props within a family have the same chance to appear.
Thus, if the family contains two props, each of them would have a 50% chance of appearing.

In your case you would have to create 9 prop exemplars (with different TGI's) of the prop you want to see more often,
and combine them in a prop family with one prop exemplar of the prop that you don't want to see so often.

Note that you only need 9 separate prop exemplars (small files).
They can all still reference the same model file by having identical Resource Key Types.

[joelyboy911]

OK, Thanks. That will be easy enough.

[SC4BOY]

The LotConfigPropertyMinSlopeAllowed for the lot is applicable only to the farm lot itself, excluding the fields surrounding it.

The fields themselves also have that property though.

I have a question.. If I understand properly the farm AND fields conform to the slope min/max property? Does the slope of the land (assuming it is somewhat irregular) have anything to do with where on the farm the "building" will develop? Or is it random? If the zone tool works for farms, does that mean the farm and fields will also grow there? or is there areas that you could zone but wouldn't grow? I've had some farms look pretty ugly on slightly irregular land.. just curious..

Oh and a note to Joelyboy.. try to make the lots at least somewhat slope conforming.. they are much more aesthetic than those that grow on "foundations".. I've seen both types.. unfortunately I don't know what they are.. If its really an issue to you I can look up examples of slope conforming ones (assuming they are still in place)

[BarbyW]

A farm lot (i.e. building) will develop along the side of a road although aesthetically it may look as though the farm is in the middle of the fields - depends on how the lot is made.

[RippleJet]

Does the slope of the land (assuming it is somewhat irregular) have anything to do with where on the farm the "building" will develop? Or is it random?

The slope within the zoned area may certainly restrict where the farm itself can grow.
If the slope along the road is higher than the farm lot's LotConfigPropertyMaxSlopeAllowed, it won't grow there.

If the zone tool works for farms, does that mean the farm and fields will also grow there? or is there areas that you could zone but wouldn't grow? I've had some farms look pretty ugly on slightly irregular land.. just curious..

The zone tool allows farmland to be zoned if the slope within a single tile is less than 16 m.
The individual farm tiles are divided into three groups, having a maximum allowed slope of 5 m, 35 m and 40 m.

Those with trees (apples and oranges) only grow where the slope is no more than 5 m,
and thus won't grow everywhere that farmland could be zoned.

The others would grow wherever you've been able to zone for farms.

[jmyers2043]

If you set a range (min slope 5 and max slope at 10) then the farm building will grow on slopes between 5 and 10.

I've done this myself. I have some forestry farms that are set to grow at slopes at 10 to 50. They grow on hills where a 'normal' farm would look odd.

Also keep in mind that the slope setting refers to the whole lot. I have a 1X1 farm. A slope of 5 is a very steep hill. If you have a 5X5 farm then a slope of 5 is more moderate. The slope refers to meters too. My 1X1 farm lot is 16 meters wide. A slope of 5 meters measured from side to side is roughly 30 degree hill.

I make most of my farms 4X4 tiles. And I usually set the min slope to 0 and max slope to 5. Wow! That is not much slope you may be thinking. The scenario is that you could have 3 tiles across that are level and the 4th tile drops 5 meters suddenly. The farm will then develop on relatively flat land but some of the props such as fences will have to deal with that steep slope.

The fields are 'attached' to the farm building. So the min/max of the field does not play a part in where the 'barn' building will grow. The thing to keep in mind is 'minimum slope before foundation' of the field lot. This, if set wrong, could create some unsightly digging into hillsides when the fields develop.

I've had some farms look pretty ugly on slightly irregular land.. just curious..

My early farms didn't conform well with the terrain. I learned over the years by playing and adjusting, playing again and adjusting again the slope settings. I also now make foundations for all my farm buildings to help with how they look on the hills and dales.

The best thing for you? Take those farms that do not look right on hills and set the min slope to 0 and max slope to 2 or 3. That can be done in the LE or iLives tool. Those changed will grow on somewhat level ground and those left will grow on steeper slopes.

[SC4BOY]

Thanks to all for their enlightenments!! And of course you, Mr Myers, have well earned your "Plowboy" nom de plume.. you should be promoted imho.. Plowboy Supreme!

would love to see your "tree farms" as demonstrated in your recent challenge posts to be released.. very creative and appropriate use of tree farms!

This thread, perhaps with a touch of cleanup or merging might make the core of a very good tutorial.